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Family has no choice but to leave Ireland

Irish family explains why they'll stay illegally in the United States

APRIL DREW,

Irish Voice Reporter

Published Thursday, October 21, 2010, 3:42 PM

Updated Thursday, October 21, 2010, 3:42 PM

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Family leaves post-Celtic Tiger Ireland to live in U.S. illegally

With no jobs, piling debt and no prospects in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland, one Irish family made the painful choice to leave their home behind and start anew in New York, even though they will live here undocumented. They are pleased with how the move has gone thus far, they tell April Drew.

Recession-hit Ireland has forced a mother and father and their two children to pack their lives into four suitcases, bid adieu to family and move 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean for a life that promises hope and prosperity – even though they will soon lapse into an undocumented status.

Paul and Rachel (not their real names) were, like thousands of other Irish families, suffering the effects of the severe economic downturn in Ireland.

They were about to lose their home. The family business had gone into bankruptcy. Finding the money to pay outstanding bills was becoming a nightmare, and putting food on the table was a constant struggle.

“What choice did we have really?” Paul, 31, said to the Irish Voice over a cup of Barry’s Tea last week.

“A life in New York can give us back what we lost in Ireland and help us back on our feet,” said Rachel, 30, taking a sip of her tea.

Two months ago Rachel, Paul and their two boys arrived in the Big Apple, not knowing many people, but full of hope and optimism.
They were determined to leave the physical and emotional effects of the Irish recession behind them and start fresh.

A new life in a new country -- a country they visited in the past and felt a connection to -- is what they have set out to achieve, and so far it has been a success.

Rewind three years. Paul had a successful plumbing business with seven staff at his disposal. His business was thriving -- so busy, in fact, that he had to refuse jobs because he didn’t have the time to complete them.

Rachel could afford to stay at home and look after their now 11-year-old and 18-month-old sons. They had two cars, nice clothes and a great social life. They wanted for nothing.

“Things were great for a while,” remembers Paul. “But everything went downhill very fast.”

The past 12 months saw a dramatic change in their lifestyle.

“It was really a knock-on effect. People weren’t getting paid so I wasn’t getting paid. I was owed a lot of money, and in reality I couldn’t keep going so I lost the business,” Paul admitted before stepping out to tend to their youngest son.

Paul, the proud breadwinner, had to do what he never envisioned doing. He had to draw Irish unemployment payments, which meant relying on the Irish government to put food on the table for his family.

“I had to go on the dole in the finish up. We couldn’t afford a week’s shopping and we were heading down the road of the house being taken off us because we couldn’t afford the mortgage,” he said upon returning to the kitchen table.

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Ajreaper | Oct 25, 2010, 11:45 PM EDT

LOL, I am sorry George I gave you the benefit of the doubt and figured you were aware this dealt with an irish family coming to the U.S.- why would anyone care about emigrating to Ireland at this point in time or how easy or difficult it may be? Completely unrelated to the topic of the article being discussed.

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maloney | Oct 25, 2010, 07:36 PM EDT

Tax I.D.'s & ICE will work together in the near future. Sending the illegal aliens back to where they belong. If illegals are such good workers why are they at the front of the line at DSS with their greasy little hands out? Why don't they stay were they belong & work to make their own countries better? Why do you expect the American people to pay for these illegal aliens? The illegals are bright & skilled at lying, stealing, raping, Drunken driving killing Americans in the process & bringing illness & many health problems to America, expecting legal citizens to pay for everything.

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MarthaAnne | Oct 25, 2010, 07:05 PM EDT

Just a little point for those who don't already know this. Illegal immigrants, if they intend to try to become legal immigrants in this country some day, somehow, always pay income tax. Any immigration lawyer will tell you that if an illegal alien wants to someday become legal, the very first thing he or she must do is show that they paid income tax during the entire time they were in the U.S. How is this done? By getting a tax I.D. which is NOT revealed to the ICE (Immigration and Naturalization Service). I also want to make this comment to people who think like killowen, who wrote: "Productive illegals is what we want not those who drain the system while running over you on bicycles. And required to speak their language for good measure." Wow, what a blantant display of racial or ethnic prejudice. Fact is, many illegal immigrants from other "undesirable" non-English speaking countries can and do work circles around Americans for their wages, are (yes!) bright and skilled in the trades, or pick them up easily, and they DO learn English.

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killowen | Oct 25, 2010, 02:33 PM EDT

Productive illegals is what we want not those who drain the system while running over you on bicycles. And required to speak their language for good measure. The pumping power of the Zionist Banker Supremos whose control over the dwindling Yankee/Brit empire needs to be understood. It led to the wild exhuberance of the Tiger who had no real meat on its bones. With the help of an IDA, firms were offered low taxation inducements to plant themselves in Eire for a time. It had the less than business savvy natives excited for a few years and it helped pave the way for the so-called Peace Agreement that protected our Master's London Financial district power base.

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NancyLou9 | Oct 25, 2010, 12:04 PM EDT

No, please, not more illegal aliens. Our country's crashing and burning from the plight of illegal aliens. Why didn't you start the process of being here legally on the 1st day you were here? I love Ireland, I loved the Irish people - I can't stand illegal aliens.

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MaryM232 | Oct 25, 2010, 10:33 AM EDT

They had food on the table back in Ireland, it wasn't that. They just refused to pitch in and work hard to reform their country. They didn't want to sacrifice, merely sponge off others. They'll be paid under the table, and others will have to pay the tax to educate the children of these selfish, lazy people. I've got news for them. The US economy is on the verge of collapse, and there won't be work. In fact, they will be outed by an angry American, and the DHS will deport them, because it would make a nice show for them to appear to be enforcing the laws. ICE is only negligent in enforcing the laws against Hispanics. I'll be passing this info on to acquaintances in NY.

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Aylward | Oct 25, 2010, 10:10 AM EDT

Of course this family had many choices, as another poster noted, to go to any of the many other countries in the EU. In the US they will be paid under the table, thereby not paying any income taxes we legal US citizens/residents pay for national, state and local government services (it's called infrastructure). Neither will their employers pay any taxes on their income from their labor. This man is a plumber - but he isn't licensed in the US. In the dire US economy there are many US plumbers,electricians and carpenters barely scraping by and in need of fuller employment. This Irish family has given up health care and much cheaper higher education for their kids. Their free-loading re not paying income taxes may be enough to pay for regular health care for a family of four. But any accident or serious illness requiring expensive medications, therapies, medical specialists and or hospitalization will wipe them out in less than a week. Another poster said the family came and got jobs, not looking for a govt. handout. News for you, boy-o - freeloading by not paying taxes is stealing a govt. handout. The cost for one child in a US public school is at least $4,000 per year. How's that for a govt. handout? And tell me again, how you feel about the Roma, who are LEGALLY in Ireland. I've seen the reaction to them in Dublin - not particularly welcoming. So when an Irish family games the system of another country, you see them as just being clever? But when a "foreigner" legally moves to Ireland, they are loathed.

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Medrano1025 | Oct 24, 2010, 09:49 PM EDT

I wish you Happy Halloween. fashionsb.com Hello,everybody,the good shoping place,In the Winter. Let's facelift bar!

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 24, 2010, 06:14 PM EDT

Ajreaper and longislander are really uninformed and careless readers, for they fail to read my post. I spoke of the difficulty of EMIGRATING to Ireland--do you guys know the difference between emigrating to a country and going on a vacation to it? Looks like you don't, if you did you wouldn't write the nonsense below.

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Ajreaper | Oct 24, 2010, 05:53 PM EDT

George the degree to which you are questioned at immigration depends on the officer and any red flags you may raise for whatever reason. I have never spent more then 30 seconds passing through immigration at Dublin airport.

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Searlit | Oct 24, 2010, 02:51 PM EDT

GeorgeDillon, is there a developed country Americans can go to, if they have lost their job? I mean really? You do seem to, only hold Ireland acountable, friend.

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CitizenWhy | Oct 24, 2010, 02:21 PM EDT

Undocumented Irish in the skilled trades are an old story in New York. Things work out because of the special skills and the particular neighborhood they choose to live in. ... In their current neighborhood there are many undocumented Irish, so no nosy inquiries are made. ... As for the schools, kids can get a good education in any school provided the parents help with the learning and the kids are motivated. If they work at their schooling they can still get a quality, and fairly cheap, college education at a public university. If they pick up a skilled, licensed trade they will not need the college degree. .. A waitress with an Irish accent is a desirable employee. If the wife can get into the party catering business with other Irish she can begin to make serious money. ... Even better get a nurses degree at a community college, do private work with wealthy people, and get left a generous sum of money. ... I am speaking from the experience of some Irish born relatives of mine.

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MarthaAnne | Oct 24, 2010, 01:08 PM EDT

I assume that this family, had they stayed in Ireland, would be able to send their children to tuition free quality schools through university and get quality, affordable medical care and enough food to eat. This is not the same as the plight of the desperately poor who come from cental and south American nations, who have to pay tuition even for high school, cannot afford medical care, etc.

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longislander1940 | Oct 24, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT

Did anyone notice that the family got "JOBS" right away. They didnt come here looking for payouts from the government like most people do. Good luck to them. As for George Dillons comment I've been in Dublin and Shannon Airports., yes, they ask where are you staying and for how long but they also say WELCOME and enjoy your stay.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 24, 2010, 08:54 AM EDT

The posters who are looking for special treatment for Irish immigrants to the US appear ignorant of the fact that emigration to Ireland is even more difficult for an American citizen, even one with Irish heritage. Bosnians, Roma, Latvians, Nigerians, Pakistanis etc. can stroll thru the Immigration Hall at Dubln Airport, but if you're an American, even one--as are so many--with Irish great granparents, you'll get the once over and be asked what are you doing in Ireland and when are you leaving. I have no sympathy for Irish illegals here--they should GO HOME and do something about the dump they have created, and punish the people they elected time & again. It's like a family who trash their own house to the point that no one can live in it, and then want their neighbors to take them in. Get Real, Irish--you created the pigsty--go clean it up, don't just leave it there.

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